Read this first
Selling, soliciting or negotiating insurance in the United States requires a state insurance producer licence. We do not hold one, and we do not sell insurance. We will not quote you a premium, recommend a specific policy, or advise you on coverage limits.
What we do is explain what the requirements are in general terms, and introduce you to licensed agencies who can quote you properly. Any dispatch or compliance company that offers to sell you a trucking policy without a producer licence is doing something you should walk away from.
Straight answer
What does commercial truck insurance cost?
Published 2026 industry guides put first-year commercial trucking insurance at roughly $8,000 to $25,000 for a new authority, with renewals commonly dropping to around $8,000 to $15,000 once you have a clean record. It is the largest single line in your startup budget by a wide margin — bigger than the truck payment in year one for many carriers.
Price is driven by your driving record, years of verifiable experience, the equipment and commodity, your radius of operation, and your chosen deductible. New authorities pay the most because there is no loss history to price against. That is not something a broker can talk their way around.
Coverages you'll hear about
- Primary liability — FMCSA sets minimum financial responsibility levels for for-hire interstate carriers, commonly $750,000 for general freight and higher for certain commodities. Your agency will confirm what applies to your operation.
- Cargo — covers the freight you're hauling. Most brokers require it and set their own minimum, frequently $100,000.
- Physical damage — your truck and trailer. Required by your lender if financed.
- Trailer interchange — required for power only work, where you pull a trailer you don't own.
- Non-trucking liability — covers you when the truck is used off dispatch.
- Reefer breakdown endorsement — not automatic on cargo policies. Some reefer brokers will not set you up without it.
How to buy it
Get three quotes. Always.
- Quote at least three agencies before you bind. Premiums for identical operations vary enormously between carriers.
- Get the filing timeline in writing. Your authority does not activate until the insurance filing is accepted by FMCSA. This is the number one cause of delayed activation.
- Match the deductible to your actual cash. A low premium with a deductible you can't pay is not a saving.
- Be accurate about commodities. Misclassifying what you haul is how claims get denied at the worst possible moment.
- Ask about dash cam discounts. Several carriers price safety technology into the premium — see ELD & dash cams.
Answers
Insurance introductions — questions
Do you sell truck insurance?
No. Selling, soliciting or negotiating insurance in the US requires a state insurance producer licence, which we do not hold. We explain requirements in general terms and introduce you to licensed agencies who quote and bind coverage. We do not quote premiums or advise on limits.
How much is commercial truck insurance for a new authority?
Published 2026 industry figures put first-year premiums at roughly $8,000 to $25,000 for a new authority, dropping to around $8,000 to $15,000 at renewal with a clean record. Your actual premium depends on driving record, verifiable experience, equipment, commodity, radius and deductible, and only a licensed agency can quote it.
What insurance do brokers require?
Most brokers require primary liability at the FMCSA minimum for your operation — commonly $750,000 for general freight — plus cargo coverage, frequently at a $100,000 minimum. Reefer and power only work usually require additional endorsements. Broker requirements vary, so confirm before you accept a load.
Do you take a commission from insurance agencies?
We charge you nothing for an introduction. If a referral arrangement exists with an agency we will disclose it to you before you speak to them. Referral compensation is regulated differently in each state, and we structure introductions to comply.
Want this handled?
Tell us where you are — brand new authority, adding a truck, or drowning in paperwork. We'll tell you which of these you actually need and which you don't.